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Frontiers in Immunology 2019Hemorrhagic fevers (HF) resulting from pathogenic arenaviral infections have traditionally been neglected as tropical diseases primarily affecting African and South... (Review)
Review
Hemorrhagic fevers (HF) resulting from pathogenic arenaviral infections have traditionally been neglected as tropical diseases primarily affecting African and South American regions. There are currently no FDA-approved vaccines for arenaviruses, and treatments have been limited to supportive therapy and use of non-specific nucleoside analogs, such as Ribavirin. Outbreaks of arenaviral infections have been limited to certain geographic areas that are endemic but known cases of exportation of arenaviruses from endemic regions and socioeconomic challenges for local control of rodent reservoirs raise serious concerns about the potential for larger outbreaks in the future. This review synthesizes current knowledge about arenaviral evolution, ecology, transmission patterns, life cycle, modulation of host immunity, disease pathogenesis, as well as discusses recent development of preventative and therapeutic pursuits against this group of deadly viral pathogens.
Topics: Africa; Arenaviridae Infections; Arenavirus; Disease Outbreaks; Hemorrhagic Fevers, Viral; Humans; Immune Tolerance; Ribavirin; South America
PubMed: 30918506
DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2019.00372 -
International Journal of Infectious... Apr 2021This article is one of a series on acute, severe diseases of humans caused by emerging viruses for which there are no or limited licensed medical countermeasures. We... (Review)
Review
OBJECTIVES
This article is one of a series on acute, severe diseases of humans caused by emerging viruses for which there are no or limited licensed medical countermeasures. We approached this summary on South American Hemorrhagic Fevers (SAHF) from a clinical perspective that focuses on pathogenesis, clinical features, and diagnostics with an emphasis on therapies and vaccines that have demonstrated potential for use in an emergency situation through their evaluation in nonhuman primates (NHPs) and/or in humans.
METHODS
A standardized literature review was conducted on the clinical, pathological, vaccine, and treatment factors for SAHF as a group and for each individual virus/disease.
RESULTS
We identified 2 treatments and 1 vaccine platform that have demonstrated potential benefit for treating or preventing infection in humans and 4 other potential treatments currently under investigation.
CONCLUSION
We provide succinct summaries of these countermeasures to give the busy clinician a head start in reviewing the literature if faced with a patient with South American Hemorrhagic Fever. We also provide links to other authoritative sources of information.
Topics: Arenaviridae; Hemorrhagic Fever, American; Humans; Viral Vaccines
PubMed: 33610781
DOI: 10.1016/j.ijid.2021.02.046 -
Viruses Oct 2012Junín virus, the etiological agent of Argentine hemorrhagic fever, causes significant morbidity and mortality. The virus is spread through the aerosolization of host... (Review)
Review
Junín virus, the etiological agent of Argentine hemorrhagic fever, causes significant morbidity and mortality. The virus is spread through the aerosolization of host rodent excreta and endemic to the humid pampas of Argentina. Recently, significant progress has been achieved with the development of new technologies (e.g. reverse genetics) that have expanded knowledge about the pathogenesis and viral replication of Junín virus. We will review the pathogenesis of Junín virus in various animal models and the role of innate and adaptive immunity during infection. We will highlight current research regarding the role of molecular biology of Junín virus in elucidating virus attenuation. We will also summarize current knowledge on Junín virus pathogenesis focusing on the recent development of vaccines and potential therapeutics.
Topics: Adaptive Immunity; Animals; Antibodies, Viral; Arenaviridae Infections; Disease Models, Animal; Disease Transmission, Infectious; Humans; Immunity, Innate; Junin virus; Membrane Glycoproteins; Rodentia; Vaccines, Attenuated; Viral Envelope Proteins; Viral Vaccines; Virus Internalization; Virus Replication
PubMed: 23202466
DOI: 10.3390/v4102317 -
Frontiers in Immunology 2022Viral hemorrhagic fever (VHF) is a term referring to a group of life-threatening infections caused by several virus families (, , and ). Depending on the virus, the... (Review)
Review
Viral hemorrhagic fever (VHF) is a term referring to a group of life-threatening infections caused by several virus families (, , and ). Depending on the virus, the infection can be mild and can be also characterized by an acute course with fever accompanied by hypervolemia and coagulopathy, resulting in bleeding and shock. It has been suggested that the course of the disease is strongly influenced by the activation of signaling pathways leading to RIG-I-like receptor-dependent interferon production. RIG-I-like receptors (RLRs) are one of two major receptor families that detect viral nucleic acid. RLR receptor activation is influenced by a number of factors that may have a key role in the differences that occur during the antiviral immune response in VHF. In the present study, we collected data on RLR receptors in viral hemorrhagic fevers and described factors that may influence the activation of the antiviral response. RLR receptors seem to be a good target for VHF research, which may contribute to better therapeutic and diagnostic strategies. However, due to the difficulty of conducting such studies in humans, we suggest using as an animal model for VHF.
Topics: Animals; Antiviral Agents; Arenaviridae; DEAD-box RNA Helicases; Hemorrhagic Fevers, Viral; Humans; Interferons; Nucleic Acids
PubMed: 36248895
DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.1010635 -
Cells Nov 2020Mammarenaviruses are a diverse genus of emerging viruses that include several causative agents of severe viral hemorrhagic fevers with high mortality in humans. Although...
Mammarenaviruses are a diverse genus of emerging viruses that include several causative agents of severe viral hemorrhagic fevers with high mortality in humans. Although these viruses share many similarities, important differences with regard to pathogenicity, type of immune response, and molecular mechanisms during virus infection are different between and within New World and Old World viral infections. Viruses rely exclusively on the host cellular machinery to translate their genome, and therefore to replicate and propagate. miRNAs are the crucial factor in diverse biological processes such as antiviral defense, oncogenesis, and cell development. The viral infection can exert a profound impact on the cellular miRNA expression profile, and numerous RNA viruses have been reported to interact directly with cellular miRNAs and/or to use these miRNAs to augment their replication potential. Our present study indicates that mammarenavirus infection induces metabolic reprogramming of host cells, probably manipulating cellular microRNAs. A number of metabolic pathways, including valine, leucine, and isoleucine biosynthesis, d-Glutamine and d-glutamate metabolism, thiamine metabolism, and pools of several amino acids were impacted by the predicted miRNAs that would no longer regulate these pathways. A deeper understanding of mechanisms by which mammarenaviruses handle these signaling pathways is critical for understanding the virus/host interactions and potential diagnostic and therapeutic targets, through the inhibition of specific pathologic metabolic pathways.
Topics: Animals; Arenaviridae; Cellular Microenvironment; MicroRNAs
PubMed: 33238430
DOI: 10.3390/cells9112525 -
An updated review and current challenges of Guanarito virus infection, Venezuelan hemorrhagic fever.Archives of Virology Sep 2022Guanarito virus (GTOV) is a member of the family Arenaviridae and has been designated a category A bioterrorism agent by the US Centers for Disease Control and... (Review)
Review
Guanarito virus (GTOV) is a member of the family Arenaviridae and has been designated a category A bioterrorism agent by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It is endemic to Venezuela's western region, and it is the etiological agent of "Venezuelan hemorrhagic fever" (VHF). Similar to other arenaviral hemorrhagic fevers, VHF is characterized by fever, mild hemorrhagic signs, nonspecific symptoms, thrombocytopenia, and leukopenia. Patients with severe disease usually develop signs of internal bleeding. Due to the absence of reference laboratories that can handle GTOV in endemic areas, diagnosis is primarily clinical and epidemiological. No antiviral therapies are available; thus, treatment includes only supportive analgesia and fluids. GTOV is transmitted by contact with the excreta of its rodent reservoir, Zygodontomys brevicauda. The main reasons for the emergence of the disease may be the increase in the human population, migration, and changes in land use patterns in rural areas. Social and environmental changes could make VHF an important cause of underdiagnosed acute febrile illnesses in regions near the endemic areas. Although there is evidence that GTOV circulates among rodents in different Venezuelan states, VHF cases have only been reported in the states of Portuguesa and Barinas. However, due to the increased frequency of invasions by humans into wildlife habitats, it is probable that VHF could become a public health problem in the nearby regions of Colombia and Brazil. The current Venezuelan political crisis is causing an increase in the migration of people and livestock, representing a risk for the redistribution and re-emergence of infectious diseases.
Topics: Animals; Arenaviridae; Arenaviridae Infections; Arenaviruses, New World; Hemorrhagic Fevers, Viral; Humans; Rodentia; Sigmodontinae
PubMed: 35579715
DOI: 10.1007/s00705-022-05453-3 -
Archives of Virology Aug 2018In 2018, the family Arenaviridae was expanded by inclusion of 1 new genus and 5 novel species. At the same time, the recently established order Bunyavirales was expanded...
In 2018, the family Arenaviridae was expanded by inclusion of 1 new genus and 5 novel species. At the same time, the recently established order Bunyavirales was expanded by 3 species. This article presents the updated taxonomy of the family Arenaviridae and the order Bunyavirales as now accepted by the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses (ICTV) and summarizes additional taxonomic proposals that may affect the order in the near future.
Topics: Animals; Arenaviridae; Arenaviridae Infections; Humans; Phylogeny
PubMed: 29680923
DOI: 10.1007/s00705-018-3843-5 -
Viruses Oct 2012Arenaviruses have a bisegmented negative-strand RNA genome, which encodes four viral proteins: GP and NP by the S segment and L and Z by the L segment. These four viral... (Review)
Review
Arenaviruses have a bisegmented negative-strand RNA genome, which encodes four viral proteins: GP and NP by the S segment and L and Z by the L segment. These four viral proteins possess multiple functions in infection, replication and release of progeny viruses from infected cells. The small RING finger protein, Z protein is a matrix protein that plays a central role in viral assembly and budding. Although all arenaviruses encode Z protein, amino acid sequence alignment showed a huge variety among the species, especially at the C-terminus where the L-domain is located. Recent publications have demonstrated the interactions between viral protein and viral protein, and viral protein and host cellular protein, which facilitate transportation and assembly of viral components to sites of virus egress. This review presents a summary of current knowledge regarding arenavirus assembly and budding, in comparison with other enveloped viruses. We also refer to the restriction of arenavirus production by the antiviral cellular factor, Tetherin/BST-2.
Topics: Amino Acid Sequence; Animals; Arenaviridae Infections; Arenavirus; Carrier Proteins; Cell Membrane; Endosomal Sorting Complexes Required for Transport; Genome, Viral; Host-Pathogen Interactions; Humans; Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; Molecular Sequence Data; Protein Structure, Tertiary; Protein Transport; Structure-Activity Relationship; Virus Assembly; Virus Release
PubMed: 23202453
DOI: 10.3390/v4102049 -
Oncotarget Dec 2015
Topics: Arenaviridae Infections; Arenavirus; Humans; Immune Evasion; Immunity, Innate
PubMed: 26595677
DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.6367 -
Oncotarget Dec 2015
Topics: Animals; Arenaviridae; Filoviridae; Flaviviridae; Hemorrhagic Fevers, Viral; Host-Pathogen Interactions; Humans; Immune Tolerance; Immunity, Innate; Orthobunyavirus; Signal Transduction
PubMed: 26657729
DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.6509